Log Configuration of Distributed Applications

1. A computer system to configure logging utilities, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores a log configuration program configured to interface with a plurality of different software components of a multi-component application, the program comprising software adaptors for configuring respective logging utilities of each of the software components, wherein the processor is configured to execute the program, wherein the program is configured to: generate a model of logs derived from at least two of the software components, wherein each logging utility is initially configured to log each event among a sequence of events in a log and the model indicates that the sequence of events is to be merged into a single representative event; determine whether one of the software adaptors for communicating with one of the logging utilities of one of the software components is currently compatible with the one logging utility, the one logging utility generating one of the logs; use the one software adaptor to send a message based on the model to the one logging utility for configuring the one logging utility to then only log the single representative event to the one log whenever the sequence of events occurs when the one software adaptor is determined to be compatible; and directly update the one log generated by the one logging utility to replace the sequence of events already logged with the single representative event when the one software adaptor is determined not be compatible, wherein the program is external to the software components.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the log configuration program includes a distinct software adaptor for each software component to enable communication between the program and the software components.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a command that directs the corresponding logging utility to suppress generation of a log record for an event.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a command that directs the corresponding logging utility to log an event that is not currently being logged.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a command that directs the corresponding logging utility to compress logs.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes a program configured to compress logs generated by the logging utilities.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the program is configured to retrieve the model from an external software utility and the model includes a state that is representative of at least two related records of the logs.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the state indicates only tokens common to the related records and their respective indexes within those records.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the logs are XML based, plain text, or stored in a relational database.

10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the memory includes a second program that enables a user to edit the model.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the second program provides a graphical user interface that enables the user to remove a state of the model, merge at least two states of the model, and convert one of the states into at least two separate states.

12. A computer system to configure logging utilities, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores a log configuration program comprising a software adaptor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the program, wherein the program is configured to retrieve logs from at least two software components of a multi-component application, generate states from the retrieved logs to form a log model, enable editing of the log model, configured to determine whether the software adaptor for communicating with one of the logging utilities of one of the software components that generates one of the logs is currently compatible with the one logging utility, and use the software adaptor to send at least one message to the one logging utility of the one software component based on the edited model to change how the one logging utility performs logging when the software adaptor is determined to be compatible, wherein the one logging utility is initially configured to log each event among a sequence of events and the message causes the logging utility to then only log a single event representative of the sequence to the one log whenever the sequence occurs, and wherein the program is configured to directly update the one log generated by the one logging utility to replace the sequence with the single event when the software adaptor is determined not to be compatible, wherein the program is external to the software components.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the editing enables a user to perform at least one of (i) removing at least one state of the model, (ii) merging at least two states of the model into a single state, and (iii) sub-dividing one state of the model into at least two separate states.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program causes the logging utility to suppress logging of a previously logged event when the state of the model is removed or when the at least two states are merged.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the configure causes the logging utility to generate a log for an event that is not currently being logged when one of the states of the model is sub-divided.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein one of the states indicates tokens shared by the corresponding records and their indexes within these records.

17. A computer system to configure logging utilities, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores a log configuration program comprising a software adaptor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the program, wherein the program is configured to derive a log model from logs of at least two software components of a multi-component application, configured to enable the log model to be edited, configured to determine whether the software adaptor for communicating with one of the logging utilities of one of the software components that generates one of the logs is currently compatible with the one logging utility, and use the software adaptor to send at least one message to the logging utility of the one software component based on the edited model to change how the one logging utility performs logging when the software adaptor is determined to be compatible, wherein the one logging utility is initially configured to log each event among a sequence of events and the message causes the logging utility to then only log a single event representative of the sequence to the one log whenever the sequence occurs, and wherein the program is configured to directly update the one log generated by the one logging utility to replace the sequence with the single event when the software adaptor is determined not to be compatible, wherein the program is external to the software components.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the program enables a user to perform at least one of (i) removing one state of the model, (ii) merging two states of the model into a single state, and (iii) sub-dividing one state of the model into at least two separate states.

19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the change causes the logging utility to suppress logging of a previously logged event when the removing or merging is performed.

20. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the change causes the logging utility to generate a log for an event that is not currently being logged when the sub-dividing is performed.

21. A method of configuring a logging utility, the method comprising: generating, by a computer system, at least one message based on a model of logs from at least two software components of a multi-component application, where each software component comprises a logging utility that is configured to log a sequence of events and the model indicates the sequence of events is to be merged into a single representative event; determining, by the computer system, whether a software adaptor of the system for communicating with one of the logging utilities of one of the software components is currently compatible with the one logging utility, the one logging utility generating one of the logs; sending, by the software adaptor of the computer system, one of the messages to the one software component for configuring the one logging utility to only log the single representative event to the one log whenever the sequence of events occur when the software adaptor is determined to be compatible; and directly updating, by the computer system the one log generated by the one logging utility to replace the sequence with the single event when the software adaptor is determined not to be compatible, wherein the program is external to the software components.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the model further indicates that another single one of the events is to be converted into a plurality of separate events, and the method further comprises sending another one of the messages to at least one of the software components for configuring the logging utility of the corresponding software component to log all the separate events whenever the another single one event occurs.